Odom would like chance to play with Riley

Odom is currently negotiating an offer sheet with the Heat worth between $60-$70 million, ESPN's Kevin Frazier reported Tuesday night.

The New York native told ESPN that he has always wanted to play with Miami coach Pat Riley.

Because Odom is a restricted free agent, Miami has withheld an offer sheet until now largely on the assumption that the Clippers would match. Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor has informed Odom that L.A. does intend to match any offer.

It remains to be seen if the Heat can construct an offer sufficiently rich and front-loaded -- perhaps averaging more than $10 million per season -- to make the Clippers change their mind. Clippers owner Donald Sterling has already invested an unprecedented $124 million in Brand and Corey Maggette.

If Odom does not land an offer sheet from the Heat, and if the Clippers refuse to increase their recent three-year offer to Odom worth $24 million, the 23-year-old can still elect to sign a one-year tender with L.A. that would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer. Miami is expected to have ample salary-cap space in the summer of 2004 to make another run at Odom if necessary.